Rape Reporting to the Police: Exploring the Social Psychological Impact of a Persuasive Campaign on Cognitions, Attitudes, Normative Expectations and Reporting Intentions

• NCJ Number: 154926
• Journal: International Review of Victimology Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (1993) Pages: 277-294
• Author(s): F W Winkel; A Vrij
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Paper presented at the 6th International Symposium on Victimology, 1988, Jerusalem

Annotation

Because sexual victimization is generally underreported to the police and public information campaigns may encourage rape victim reporting, a working model was developed to design and evaluate persuasive information campaigns.

Abstract

Empirical studies showed that public information campaigns may influence crime reporting to the police, and these studies formed the basis for developing a working model of such campaigns. The following factors were identified as relevant in victim rape reporting: attitudes toward the act of reporting, normative expectations of notifying the police, circumstances under which the incident occurred, familiarity with police procedures, and attitudes toward police. In developing the working model, it was hypothesized that information would cause a more positive attitude toward reporting, increase familiarity with police procedures, improve attitudes toward police, and enhance reporting to the police. The working model was tested using 155 undergraduate students who ranged in age from 18 to 25 years. The experimental group included 30 males and 47 females, while the control group included 30 males and 48 females. Experimental subjects viewed an informational film. Persuasive information appeared to result in both desired and undesired effects. Women who watched the film considered reprisal on the part of the culprit more likely than control women and were skeptical of the police response if they reported. In addition, women who watched the film indicated that reporting would probably make them feel worse, even though they said reporting would likely reduce the fear associated with victimization. Attitudes of female subjects toward police varied from neutral to slightly positive. In general, no significant differences were observed between women who watched the film and control women. Males who watched the film indicated that police probably did not give victims a chance to tell their story and that reporting would likely lead to better treatment of future victims. 32 refernces, 3 tables, and 1 figure